Foldable bag and the like



Jan. 15, 1963 F. A. sAMARA 3,073,367

FOLDABLBQAG-AND lrz-xr: LIKE Filed June 24, 1958 l /QTTORNEYI United Sttes This invention relates to improvements in novelty containers and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novelty container or the like, which may be made of flexible wall material, and formed with releasable fastening means whereby it may be used in either opened-out or closed positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty container or the like, in which there is a main body formed of flexible sheet material, with fastening means cooperating with selected edges or margins of the main body, so that, when fully opened out, with said fastening means unfastened, the body assumes a plane contour, but when said fastening means are fastened in whole or in part, as desired, the device becomes a container for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelty article which may be used either as a mat or cover member, and, when fastened in portions thereof, may be used as a bag or container, without the need for use of any tools or the like to do so.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novelty article which when opened ont has the appearance of a flexible mat, cover or the like, with Well defined marginal edge portions, the edge portions being provided with slide fasteners or the like to cooperate with their similarly provided neighboring edges to engage therewith, so that when, for example a cooperative single pair of such edge portions is fastened together, a protective hood ldevice is formed which may be placed over the head of the user for protection from'the elements, and when more than said single pair of edge portions are each engaged with its mate, then the article assumes the form of an enclosure container, of substantial containing capacity.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novelty article of the type described, which may be employed as an insulating container for perishable foods, or the like, or for containing wet articles, such as bathing suits, diapers, etc., the walls of the article being formed of suitable material withrinsulation as needed or desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty article of the type described, which is engageable with a second similar article to form a composite mat or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novelty i article of the type described, which is simple in design,

inexpensive to manufacture, highly effective for its many intended purposes, and rugged in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part'hereof, and in which:

FIGURE l is a face view showing a preferred form ,of the device in fully opened out disposition, as seen looking toward the normally inner surface thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken .from the ,same aspect as FIGURE 1, butshowing .the device in `closeddisposition,

butremaining with the handles retracted.

arent FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view ,of the device fice the invention with rounded contours when seen in opened out face view.

FIGURE 5 is a face view showing `how two devices are joinable together to form a long composite device or mat.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane-6 of FiGURE 1, showing optional insulation construction.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2, but showing a modified form of construction, in which the direction of movement of the slider for closing vis toward the center as shown.

In connection with the manufacture and use of containers and the like articles, versatility lin use is quite important, so as to permit of using the device for more than one purpose without structural alteration or vneed for tools. The present invention provides a versatile novelty container which may be opened out to form a pad, mat, or covering, and constructed to permit of serial attachment of more than one such devices together to form a larger pad, mat or the like. In addition, by use of slide fasteners of various types, carried on -the marginal areas of the device body, it is possible to engage mating slide fasteners to form a hollow, chambered container, with handles for portability, the walls of the device being relatively flexible to permit of assuming agreeable contours to the eye, and also to accommodate the contents. Further, by use of intermediate layers of insulating or waterproofing material in the device body, further heat insulation or waterproong may be achieved,

for the contents. By making the device of relatively few elements, low cost is attained, without sacrificing either versatilityor attractiveness.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for employing the same and carrying it out, reference may now be had to the vdrawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views. Y

As shown, there is a main device body generally indicated at 29, which may be formed of a single sheet of material, or, according to a preferred form, of outer and inner sheets of flexible material or fabric, plastic or the like, as at 22 and 24. While the sheets 22 and 24 may be themselves made with certain physical or chemical characteristics, such as waterproof, etc., it may be desired to make them of purely ornamental utility fabrics, and to therefore dispose therebetween a further layer of insulating or waterproof material 26, as seen best in FIGURE 6. Thus where insulation is desired, the material 26 may be of Fiberglas or other fibrous matting which is flexible and yet heat insulating. Similarly, it may also be of waterproof material. 'This will thuspermit of placing inside the device, when folded, as 'in FIGURE 3, of hot articles, such as baby milk bottles,

or cold beverages in bottles, also of foods eitherhot or cold, the insulation retaining the .heat `suiliciently long 'for the purpose.

material, either Ymatching the material forming the main panels 22 and 24, or contrasting therewith, or with `either of them when the .panels are of different colors or fabrics. Where such panels are made of some of the wellknown plastics sheetingmaterials which lend themselves to electronic or direct heat sealing, under elevated temperatures, then the binding tape Z8 may be dispensed with, and instead, the panel margins may be joined by means of heat sealing or other type of engagement, such as adhesively. Similarly, one edge of such margins may be made to open out, to afford access to the interspace 32, for permitting insertion of the lining material 26, whatever it is, or of its removal when the outer panels are to be cleaned, shipped, to reduce bulk, or to store them. Also, where desired, in the event the liner material 26 is permanently installed, the process of quilting may be used to holdpanels 22 and 24 together with the liner 26, and such quilting may be decorative as well as utilitarian.

As seen best in FIGURE 1, I may mount slide fasteners along the locations immediately adjacent to the binding tapes or margins of the panels 22 and 24, such slide fasteners being formed of a number of small mating teeth or hook members carried in spaced relationship on a tape or the like 34, the tape 34 being secured in place to one of the panels such as panel 24, by means of stitching 36. The stitching may be directly to the immediately adjacent panel 24, or, if desired, the binding tape 28 may overlap the portion of the slide fastener tape, and single row of stitching may be used to fasten together the panels 22 and 24, the binding tape 28, and the marginal portion of the slide fastener tape which underlies the binding tape. Where this is done, rapid low cost mass production is possible, and use of relatively unskilled labor is at hand for the manufacturer, thus lowering the cost of manufacture to in turn reduce the ultimate retail selling price substantially.

As seen in FIGURE 1, there is a slide fastener portion 40 secured from the central portion 42 of the edge margin 44, and extending leftwardly to its end double socket terminal 46 near corner 48. To the right of central portion 42, there is a slide fastener portion 50 which extends rightwardly to its single pin end S2 near corner 54. It is seen that the double socket terminal 46 of fastener portion 40 is engageable with the end pin 52 of the slide fastener portion 50 which extends from corner 54 to the central portion 42 of side 44. Also, the pin end 72 of slide fastener portion 74 is engageable with the double socket end 64 of the slide fastener portion 66 which in turn extends from corner 54, approximately to the center portion 68 of side edge 70 of the device.

Similarly, the pin end 92 of the slide fastener portion 88, secured from center 82 to near corner 90, is engageable with the double socket end 78 of slide fastener portion 80, which extends from center portion 82 of edge 84, to near the corner 76. And it is seen that the slide fastener portion 58, which extends from center 60 to near corner 48, has its pin end 56, engageable with the double socket end portion 94, of slide fastener portion 96, which extends from center 60 to near corner 90.

Each of said complementary slide fastener portions, which are to be secured together, is adapted for having its teeth interengaged by means of a slide fastener slider member 98, which is brought close to double socket member 46, for example, before insertion of pin end 52 through slider member 98 into the double socket member, whereupon the slider member is slidable as seen in FIGURE 2, to interengage the cooperating slide fastener teeth, and thus the marginal portions of the edges of the main panels, in the manner shown best in FIGURE 2, in which all are engaged. Here it is seen that the slide fastener sliders 98 will all rest at the outer corners of the folded device, while the engagement of the double sockets and pin ends takes place and remains at the central portion seen in the view. This forms a chamber 100, in which objects, articles or the like may be deposited and carried. Handles 102 and 104 may be formed of loops of fabric or the like flexible material, and secured at 106 to the panels immediately adjacent, by means of stitching 110, heat sealing or otherwise. As seen best in FIGURE 3, the handles may easily be used for engaging the arm of the user to carry the thus finished bag. To open the chamber to take out or insert articles, it is only necessary to slide one of the sliders 98 to open apart its respective slide fastener, and afford ccess to the chamber 100.

`JVhile in the form shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, the slide fasteners are oriented so that the double sockets and pins are near the corners such as 48, it is understood that under amodified form, this may be reversed, to bring the said parts to the centers such as at 42 for the slide fastener elements `40 and 50, and at 60 for the slide fastener elements 58 and 96; at 82 for the slide fastener elements and 88; and at 68 for the slide fastener elements 66 and 74. When this modified form of construction is employed, then it is seen that the slider, such as 98, would engage the teeth or portions 40 and 50 together, and so on. FIGURE 7 shows this modification.

It is also understood that while toothed slide fasteners are employed according to the preferred form of the invention, other means for fastening the abutting edges may also be employed, according toA further modified forms, and for example interlockable rib at 40 and groove at S0, with an appropriate slidable engaging member for engaging said 40 and 50 together as it slides therealong; also snap fasteners; and, even spring inserts may be employed for this purpose.

As seen in FIGURE 5, the arrangement may be made so that several such major elements as seen in FIG- URE 1, for example, may be joined together at abutting edges to form a large mat or cover, or container. In FIGURE 5, for example, there is the first major mem ber 20a, which may be much like member 20 of FIG- URE 1, and second major member 20b, which may be similar also. Where the two edges llta and 110b are to be joined by slide fasteners carried `on their margins, as seen in FIGURE 1, on a larger scale, it is apparent that the mating edge 110b of device 20b should have its pin end like 72 at the top to mate with double socket 64, and its double socket end like 64 at the bottom to mate with pin end 72, as the respectively carried two sliders like 96 are moved to engage the teeth of these mating parts. This makes a large mat or cover as shown.

Similarly, four or more such individual devices may be connected together, at abutting edges in a similar manner, to make four-in-line, to cover a long surface, or four forming a large square instead, as desired, it being simple to engage the edges of the devices together as shown.

As seen best in FIGURE 4, there is a modified form of the invention, in which instead of having four intersecting straight marginal edges when opened out, as in FIGURE 1, the device has a circular main panel, which may be formed of one sheet of flexible material, or two such sheets, like those shown at 2 and 24 in FIGURE 6, and if desired, with a layer of insulating material like 26 between them. As the main panel is formed with rounded margins or circumference perimeter, as at 122, it is seen that the division of the panel by imaginary horizontal and vertical lines, diametrically, as at 124 and 126, will serve to locate portions corresponding to the corners 48, 54, 76 and 90 of FIGURE 1, but relating to the circular layout. Such locations would be 128, 130, 132 and 134, and diagonal diarnetral lines 136 and 138 dividing equally the four segments formed by lines 126 and 124, further serve to denote center locations corresponding to those like 42, 68, 82 and 60 of FIGURE l, but as seen in FIGURE 4, they would bear numerals 140, 142, 144 and 146. It is thus shown that there is a slide fastener portion 148 stitched to the panel perimeter with its pin end 150 near location 128 to mate with double socket end 152 of complementary slide fastener portion 168 also located thereat, but extending around to location 146. In the same manner, slide fastener section 158 is engaged with section 154, with the aid of a slider member like 162, and section 164 is engaged with section 160, while sectionled is engaged with section 170, there being four slider members 162, one for each pair of complementary slide fastener sections. When the lwhole number of sections are engaged, the bag is in form to define a chamber for receiving articles to be carried, and a pair of handles 172 and 174, stitched or otherwise secured as at 176 and 178 to the main panel on the reverse side as seen looking at FIGURE 4, is secured for this purpose of carrying. The small broken line circles 181 and 183 near each handle indicate locations of snap fasteners or the like to aid further in shaping out the bag. Those at the top o line 124 mating with those at the bottom in snap fashion. To gain access to the interior of the chamber, any slide fastener may be opened out, and here again it is seen that, when opened out as in FIGURE 4, the device `may be used as a mat or cover, in FIGURE 5, several such mats may be secured together as shown. And in FIGURE 7, a modified form is shown in which the construction shown is somewhat similar to that of FIGURE 2, but the slide fasteners move toward the center, instead of to the edges as in FIGURE 2.

Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it is understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It is also understood that the handles may be made of adjustable length, by use of buckle inserts and tongue holes, for added utility.

I claim:

1. A novelty package comprising a main body formed of a sheet material means with a first marginal edge formed thereon, a second marginal edge formed thereon in spaced relation to said irst marginal edge and substantially parallel thereto, third and fourth marginal edge portions mutually parallel and intersecting said first and second marginal edges with substantial space therebetween, each edge portion being divided in the middle into two rst and second edge halves, rst and second taped slide fastener teeth carried by said lirst and second edge halves and constructed for interengagement with each other when brought into engaging positions, slide fastener actuating rider members, one for each marginal edge portion and for slidable movement along said taped teeth for interengaging them together so that along each marginal edge portion the teeth of said irst and second edge halves are interengaged for that marginal edge portion, whereby a hollow area is formed and a container chamber dened in said device.

2. The construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said slider rider members initially engages said taped teeth of its marginal edge portion when the corners of said main body are brought together, and continues to engage them, lterminating at the center of the marginal edge portion involved, so that the rider members remain at the center portions when the teeth are all interengaged.

3. The construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said rider members initially engages said taped teeth of its marginal edge portion when the teeth located at the center of its marginal edge portion are interengaged, and proceeds as it slides therealong, until the teeth at the corners of the said main body are interengaged, so that the rider members remain at the corner portions when the teeth are all interengaged.

4. The construction according to claim 1, wherein said main body is formed of a plurality of sheets of sheet material secured together along their overregistering marginal edges.

5. The construction according to claim l, wherein said main body is formed of a plurality of outer sheets of sheet material and an inner mass of material disposed intermediate said outer sheets, said inner mass being of relatively brous material of substantial bulk in thickness.

6. The construction according to claim l, wherein said main body is formed of an outer rst sheet of material, an inner second sheet of material, and a third mass of interlining material disposed between said first and second sheets, and formed of fibrous insulating material.

7. The construction according to claim 1, wherein said main body yis formed of water impermeable material.

References tCiterl in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A NOVELTY PACKAGE COMPRISING A MAIN BODY FORMED OF A SHEET MATERIAL MEANS WITH A FIRST MARGINAL EDGE FORMED THEREON, A SECOND MARGINAL EDGE FORMED THEREON IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID FIRST MARGINAL EDGE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THERETO, THIRD AND FOURTH MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS MUTUALLY PARALLEL AND INTERSECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MARGINAL EDGES WITH SUBSTANTIAL SPACE THEREBETWEEN, EACH EDGE PORTION BEING DIVIDED IN THE MIDDLE INTO TWO FIRST AND SECOND EDGE HALVES, FIRST AND SECOND TAPED SLIDE FASTENER TEETH CARRIED BY SAID FIRST AND SECOND EDGE HALVES AND CONSTRUCTED FOR INTERENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER WHEN BROUGHT INTO ENGAGING POSITIONS, SLIDE FASTENER ACTUATING RIDER MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH MARGINAL EDGE PORTION AND FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT ALONG SAID TAPED TEETH FOR INTERENGAGING THEM TOGETHER SO THAT ALONG EACH MARGINAL EDGE PORTION THE TEETH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND EDGE HALVES ARE INTERENGAGED FOR THAT MARGINAL EDGE PORTION, WHEREBY A HOLLOW AREA IS FORMED AND A CONTAINER CHAMBER DEFINED IN SAID DEVICE. 